A Tai Lam Country Park hike that began in Tuen Mun (Photo-essay)

Tuen Mun is where one of Hong Kong's earliest settlements -- dating back to the Neolithic period -- was located.  More recently, it's where one of Hong Kong's new towns was developed.  Yet not that many Hong Kongers who are not residents of that area venture out to this northwestern locale which can feel so very far away from much of the rest of the territory.

I've to be honest and say that I can count with my fingers the number of times I've been out to Tuen Mun.  But among the reasons that I have to head out there is to begin a hike since there are a number of trailheads in the area -- or, in the case of the Maclehose Trail, Tuen Mun is where the 100 kilometer trail comes to an end.

Thus it was that two friends and I ventured out to Tuen Mun on what turned out what was a fairly rainy afternoon to start with to tramp along several kilometers of hiking trail.  Happily, not only did it turned out to be pretty okay weatherwise later on but we actually had a fun time checking out a part of Hong Kong we hitherto had not been on, and viewing certain areas from previously unfamiliar vantage points and angles! :)

Soon after entering into Tai Lam Country Park from Tuen Mun,  

I made my first critter spotting of the day :)

A colorful sight during the grayer part of the day  -- 

a Hong Kong bauhinia in bloom :)

The imposing buildings of the Hong Kong branch

of Harrow school are not what one expects to see

while out hiking in northwest Hong Kong!

Also unexpected was the sight of these grazing goats!

That's more like it in terms of expected hike sights!

 Among Tai Lam Country Park's more prominent features

are Tai Lam Chung Reservoir and the hills to its northeast

Later in the hike, the rain stopped, the sky cleared, and 

we could see quite a long way -- including back to Tuen Mun,

where we had began our hike!

The weather conditions weren't great at hike's start but they 

improved considerably by the latter part of our excursion :)